English Idioms

Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms

Tar with the same brush

Meaning

The idiom "tar with the same brush" means to treat someone or something unfairly or arbitrarily, without regard for their individual qualities or circumstances. It is a way of saying that two people or things are being judged or treated as if they are the same. For example, "The manager accused everyone on the team of being unproductive, without any evidence to support his claims. He was tarring all of them with the same brush." In this sentence, the manager is treating all members of the team as if they were equally unproductive, without considering their individual work performance.

Usage

The usage of the idiom can vary depending on the context. It can be used in a variety of situations to describe unfair or biased treatment. Here are five examples:

  • "The hiring manager dismissed all candidates from that region, tarring them with the same brush as if they were all unqualified." This sentence shows how the manager was treating all candidates from a specific region as if they were equally unqualified.
  • "The judge sentenced the two defendants to the same prison sentence, despite their different backgrounds and circumstances." In this sentence, the judge was tarring both defendants with the same brush by treating them as if they were equal in terms of guilt or punishment.
  • "The police officer accused the group of young people of vandalism without any evidence, tarring them all with the same brush." This sentence shows how the police officer was treating all members of the group as if they were equally guilty of vandalism.
  • "The government implemented a policy that affected everyone negatively, tarring all citizens with the same brush." In this sentence, the government was treating all citizens as if they were equally affected by the policy, without considering their individual circumstances.
  • "The parent accused all other parents at the school of being neglectful, tarring them all with the same brush." This sentence shows how the parent was treating all other parents as if they were equally negligent, without considering their individual behavior or relationship with their child.

Roots and History

The idiom "tar with the same brush" dates back to the 16th century in English literature. One of its earliest recorded uses was by Geoffrey Chaucer in his poem "The Canterbury Tales." In this poem, Chaucer describes a woman who was accused of being a witch and burned at the stake. He writes, "She was tarred with the same brush as others." Over time, the idiom has been used to describe various forms of unfair treatment and discrimination. It has become a way of recognizing that people or things should not be judged or treated as if they are equal, but rather based on their individual qualities or circumstances.

Synonyms in English

  • "Paint with the same brush" - This idiom means to treat people or situations in the same way. For example, "The boss always paints all his employees with the same brush, expecting them to perform at the same level."
  • "Classify with the same net" - This idiom means to classify people or situations together without regard for their individual characteristics. For example, "The government classified all immigrants as potential terrorists with the same net, regardless of their background or intentions."
  • "Lump together with the rest" - This idiom means to treat people or situations as if they are equal and interchangeable. For example, "The marketing team lumped together all their customers with the rest, without considering their individual preferences or needs."

Synonyms in other languages

  • Spanish - "Tirar con el mismo cepillo" - This idiom means to treat people or situations in the same way. For example, "The boss always throws all his employees in the same cauldron, expecting them to perform at the same level."
  • French - "Égarez avec le même pinceau" - This idiom means to paint people or situations with the same brush, without regard for their individual characteristics. For example, "The government painted all immigrants as potential terrorists with the same brush, regardless of their background or intentions."
  • German - "Jeder mit dem gleichen Netz fangen" - This idiom means to classify people or situations together without regard for their individual characteristics. For example, "The government classified all immigrants as potential terrorists with the same net, regardless of their background or intentions."

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